as if they knew

early

learning, is less about what

your mother

and father

tells you to do,

or not to do.

it involves pain.

touching

the stove, the fire,

playing with matches,

picking up

sharp things,

pulling a bone from

a dog's mouth.

bee stings.

the head stuff comes later,

as the parents

explain

and explain

the way life works, as

if they knew.